Black Label [EN]: Chapter 91

Black Label 90

91. One Day

Sitting with his legs crossed, Jaeseung spoke with a bright expression.

“Alexander, how is it? Do you think it’s good?”

– Ri, where are you right now?

“I’m in my Manhattan studio.”

– I’ll be right there, so wait a moment.

Alexander’s voice on the other end of the line was very excited.

This was proof that he liked the design quite a bit. Jaeseung replied in a relaxed tone.

“Alexander, I’m fine, so take your time.”

After ending the call with Alexander, he began to look at the diagram displayed on the iMac PC monitor.

He had spent over 24 hours straight in the studio. He dozed off in the chair from time to time, but that was all the sleep he got.

However, he didn’t feel tired at all. Rather, he felt a forgotten passion rekindling, making him feel refreshed.

‘Still, it’s tough….’

Jaeseung crossed his arms and began to stare intently at the iMac PC on the workbench.

Drawing the diagram with a Wallflower pencil was a breeze, but the process of redrawing the diagram using a paint tool was quite difficult.

Since it was an unfamiliar task, he had to spend the most time on this process.

Well, either way, this will be solved with time and effort.

‘I must not miss any paint tool-related lectures and listen to them all.’

Jaeseung nodded a few times and got up from his seat.

As soon as he opened the studio window, the chilly night air rushed into the studio.

The night air was simply chilly, but the air inside the studio was stuffy.

Like a midsummer night.

* * *

“With this, we will conclude the freshman orientation.”

As soon as Edin Thomas finished his speech on the podium, a thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.

Clap clap clap clap-!

Jaeseung looked around.

Everyone had eyes full of dreams and seemed busy applauding with all their might.

These were the alumni who would be studying together in the future, and also his future competitors.

It was clear that some of them would advance into the New York fashion scene in just a few years.

Anyway, how should he put it? He could feel the freshness of youth and a burning desire to learn.

Jaeseung smiled and picked up his backpack that he had placed at his feet.

Thanks to the long two-hour speech, he felt like his butt was going numb, to put it a bit exaggeratedly.

He estimated that the OT [Orientation] time would have been cut in half if the explanation about the school’s history and background had been omitted.

Jaeseung put his backpack on his back and began to leave the auditorium.

Soon, just as Jaeseung took a step into the hallway outside the auditorium.

“Jaeseung-gun.”

Edin Thomas, who was standing in front of the door, stopped Jaeseung with a faint smile.

“Yes, Professor.”

“Do you have some time to spare?”

“Of course.”

Even though they had only exchanged a few words, he felt the piercing gazes of his classmates.

After all, it was Edin Thomas, not just any professor, right?

It was clear that some of the classmates had decided to attend Parsons [The New School’s art and design college] just by seeing his name, so he had to endure this level of attention.

As Edin Thomas took the lead and started walking, Jaeseung also started walking behind him.

After walking silently along the hallway for a while.

“By the way, dressed like that, you really look like an ordinary freshman.”

Was this a compliment? Jaeseung, who couldn’t answer right away and hesitated, replied with an awkward smile.

“Thank you.”

No matter how much of a Jaeseung he was, Edin Thomas, who was nothing less than a ‘living history’ of the current fashion world, felt endlessly difficult to approach.

Then, Edin Thomas exclaimed “Ah!” and continued in a playful tone.

“Except for the fact that most of the clothes you’re wearing are premium brands that ordinary college students can’t even dream of.”

“Ah, Professor. This is….”

“Haha! Yes, I know. I’m not saying this to criticize you for being extravagant. After all, they must all be gifts from Alexander.”

The clothes Jaeseung was wearing now were all the clothes that were in the closet when he moved into the Manhattan apartment.

In other words, they were all products of the premium brand Alexander King.

Since Alexander had personally selected and gifted him these ‘Hidden Patch’ products, he wore them without hesitation, but he couldn’t help but be startled when Edin Thomas recognized them at a glance.

“Let’s go to my office first.”

Jaeseung began to look at Edin Thomas’s back with awe-filled eyes.

Recognizing Hidden Patch products at a glance?

This was something that could never be done without carefully reviewing the lookbooks [collections of photographs compiled to show off a model’s or photographer’s work] of various brands that are released every season.

It seemed that he was making constant efforts despite already being at the top.

As soon as he sat down on the reception sofa in the professor’s office, Edin Thomas immediately brought up the topic.

“So, you must be starting to prepare for the next season? What are your hunches?”

It was quite a direct question. Jaeseung smiled faintly and answered confidently without a moment’s hesitation.

“A hunch is just a hunch, but… it’s quite good. I have no doubt that I will be able to achieve satisfactory results.”

The success or failure of a brand is determined by the action of countless variables.

For example, from the number of competing companies that have released similar concept products, to the way the products are released, marketing strategies, and power struggles with various influential magazines, etc….

But if you think about it simply, there are only two possible outcomes.

Success or failure.

Anyway, the professional manager ‘Theo’ and the management and strategy team staff will solve all the complicated issues.

Wasn’t he just supposed to focus on product design? There was no need to be preoccupied with worries and feel intimidated.

‘And the designs are actually coming out satisfactorily….’

Just as Jaeseung was lost in thought, Edin Thomas said with a bright smile.

“Really? Then I can definitely look forward to Alexander King’s this season. To be honest, I’ve been quite disappointed because it seemed like he had fallen into a rut for the past few years.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Jaeseung-gun, do you know what situation should be guarded against even more than a drop in the brand’s sales?”

“I think it’s the phenomenon of maintaining sales.”

Edin Thomas, who exclaimed “Oh?” as if he found it interesting, stroked his chin and asked back.

“The reason?”

Even though it was a simple question, he felt a sense of tension rising for no reason. Jaeseung, who had swallowed the saliva that had filled his mouth, began to explain his thoughts fluently.

“If sales are on the decline, it is possible to effectively analyze the cause through the secured database, but if sales are frozen, even that becomes impossible.”

“That’s right. A decline after a long period of growth stagnation is one of the signals that the brand’s value will fall day and night. That was an excellent answer.”

When Jaeseung replied, “Thank you,” Edin Thomas snapped his fingers and said.

“That’s the situation with Alexander King. As far as I know, sales have been frozen for the past two years. They even made the unreasonable move of recruiting an emerging minimalist designer who is still shrouded in mystery as the creative director….”

Edin Thomas trailed off and put on his glasses, adding in an indifferent tone.

“Also, your joining RA Crew, in my eyes, just looks like a marketing ploy.”

“Ah….”

“Alexander has been quite clever since his college days. Anyway, I have no doubt that you will be the savior. Alexander King’s management team must also have high expectations for you.”

After speaking, Edin Thomas added with a rather mischievous expression, “Your shoulders must be heavy in many ways.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Anyway, I should get to the point now.”

After a moment of silence, Edin Thomas, who had been staring at Jaeseung intently, carefully continued.

“I would like to see the completed diagrams if you have them. Maybe there’s something I can help with.”

“Ah, thank you! If you could tell me your email address….”

Just as Jaeseung was about to continue, Edin Thomas clicked his tongue and said.

“You’re wrong.”

“Pardon?”

“You have to be wary.”

“Excuse me? Of you, Professor…?”

“Yes.”

Then he said again in an eerie tone.

“You’ve already entered the New York fashion scene, haven’t you? Even if you haven’t, it’s the same, but all the faculty members, including me, are your competitors before they are professors. If a designer from a competing company asked you to show them the diagrams, what would you do? Would you show them right away?”

“No, that’s absolutely….”

“Make it a habit to never let your guard down. It’s a tiring habit, but at least it will prevent you from being cut by an invisible blade.”

It was advice that would become flesh and blood.

Design schools, including Parsons, are not much different from Korea.

Just as light and darkness coexist, various irregularities also coexist where good stories exist.

In particular, matters related to design theft and plagiarism were one of the things that happened frequently all over the world.

Jaeseung bowed his head and said sincerely.

“Thank you very much. I will keep that in mind.”

“Anyway, I was serious about looking at the diagrams.”

After speaking, he continued in an indifferent tone with an inscrutable expression.

“Showing your back is an action that can only be done to someone you won’t regret being betrayed by. If you don’t think you’ll regret being betrayed by me, send me the diagrams.”

“Thank you, I will send them to you.”

“You know, you don’t seem to be a student who listens well.”

Jaeseung shrugged his shoulders at Edin Thomas’s words with a smirk and replied.

“Well, opportunities to receive ‘feedback’ from a designer like you, Professor, are rare. Even if something unimaginable happens, I don’t really care.”

“You don’t care? What do you mean?”

“I don’t think it would be bad to have a story about being betrayed by ‘Edin Thomas’ in my autobiography that will be published in the future.”

When Jaeseung replied playfully, Edin Thomas burst into laughter.

He laughed so joyfully that tears welled up in his eyes.

“Yes, yes. That’s definitely not wrong.”

“Should I send it to the email listed on the school website?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will send it to you before midnight today.”

There was one fact that he could clearly realize.

Before and after entering the professor’s office, Edin Thomas’s eyes had completely changed.

In a friendly atmosphere, various additional personal stories were exchanged.

* * *

Meanwhile, Alexander King’s atelier [a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer] was in a state of emergency.

The affiliated tailors gathered in one place and began to exchange various conversations with endlessly serious expressions.

“This is ridiculous….”

The one who opened the conversation was ‘Jayce,’ a 9-year veteran tailor.

Then, Michelle, the Meister [master] of the atelier, shook her head and said as if she agreed.

“It would be one or two types, but if all the products this season are like this, it’s absolutely impossible.”

After speaking, she shifted her gaze again and began to look at the diagrams in her hand.

The diagrams in her hand were none other than the diagrams drawn by Jaeseung.

The diagrams sent by Jaeseung had an unbelievable level of difficulty that even the experienced tailors of the atelier had to stick out their tongues.

Then, the tailor Phillip carefully opened his mouth.

“We need to coordinate with Ri. Just because high-difficulty sewing is involved doesn’t mean that a good design is born, right?”

At his words, several tailors began to nod their heads as if they agreed.

At that moment.

“Long time no see.”

As the door of the atelier opened, Jaeseung appeared.

In Jaeseung’s hands, as always, was a flower basket.

Jaeseung looked around and asked with a puzzled expression.

“But the atmosphere… what’s wrong? Is something wrong?”

Then, Michelle sighed and shook the diagrams in her hand, saying.

“About the diagrams that Ri sent, I’m sorry, but the difficulty is too high. It would be one or two types of these products, but if all the products are like this….”

“Michelle, unfortunately, the diagrams that will be drawn in the future will also have similar difficulty.”

“Ri, I’m saying this carefully. No matter how I think about it, coordination is necessary. The most important thing is that the products are released on time, right?”

“I believe that I can do it sufficiently.”

The conflict with the atelier was a case that he had already considered.

After a moment of silence, Michelle continued to speak in a somewhat agitated tone.

Since Jaeseung only responded firmly, she also lost her composure.

However, Jaeseung was also feeling dissatisfied.

It would be one thing to complain in the process, but he didn’t like the fact that creaking sounds started ringing before he even started.

“The sample fitting will be repeated several times, it’s absolutely impossible. This might sound a bit harsh, but even if we don’t know about the design, sewing is our area.”

At that time.

“One day.”

“Pardon?”

“One day is enough.”

After speaking, Jaeseung rolled up the sleeves of the shirt he was wearing and continued.

“I will make a sample myself for one type. If I finish making it in one day, I hope you don’t express dissatisfaction with the difficulty of the diagrams.”

As soon as Jaeseung’s words ended, the air inside the atelier froze coldly.

All they could do was stare blankly at Jaeseung.